USA

From Australia to New York: Sharing Lash & Brow Innovation Across the Globe

From Australia to New York: Sharing Lash & Brow Innovation Across the Globe

When a brand has been shaping an industry for more than 30 years, travel becomes part of the story.

For Elleebana, 2026 has already been a year defined by connection, education, and innovation across the globe. From Japan to Slovenia, Greece to New York, our mission remains the same: to elevate the lash and brow industry through world-class education, meaningful experiences, and a passion for continual evolution.

Most recently, the Elleebana team travelled to New York City for two exciting events that brought together artists, educators, and industry leaders from across the United States and beyond.

A First for New York: The USA Educator Symposium

For the very first time, Elleebana hosted its USA Educator Symposium in New York City, a day dedicated to education, collaboration, and empowering our educator and distributor network.

Set in the beautiful Midtown Loft & Terrace, the symposium began with exclusive product knowledge and advanced technique sessions led by Elleebana Founder Otto Mitter and Master Educator Paige Langley. Designed specifically for our USA educators, these sessions offered a behind-the-scenes look at the latest innovations from the world’s most popular lash lift brand, including advanced Korean lash lift applications and future developments within the Elleebana brand.

As Elleebana continues to expand its global education footprint, Otto emphasises the importance of bringing educators, artists, and industry professionals together to elevate standards and inspire innovation across the world: 

“Education has always been at the core of everything we do at Elleebana. It’s something we take immense pride in, and it’s the driving force behind events such as the Elleebana Symposium. These gatherings provide an opportunity for us to come together, refine our techniques, elevate our educational standards, and ensure we’re consistently delivering the highest level of training and support to our students around the world.

Just as importantly, these events allow us to strengthen our connections with salon partners, distributors, trainers, and the wider beauty community. By sharing knowledge, experiences, and ideas on a global scale, we continue to grow together and raise the standard of our industry worldwide.”

For Master Educator Paige, ongoing education is at the heart of professional growth. She shares why opportunities like these are so valuable for both personal and industry development:

“As an industry educator for Elleebana and a representative of our brand, it is important to continually implement new skills and techniques while exploring every opportunity to deliver the highest standard of education and service to our team and customers. In our forever evolving industry, we never stop learning. There are always new product innovations, more effective salon practices, creative trends, and valuable knowledge that can help us grow both professionally and personally.”

Attendees then joined Master Trainer Reid Ryan for an inspiring session on brow mastery, exploring the techniques, artistry, and small refinements that can dramatically elevate treatment results.

The focus then shifted from artistry to education as Master Trainers Kristen Money and Alex Brown shared their expertise on becoming a more impactful educator. Their presentation explored how trainers can refine their delivery, strengthen their personal brand, and create meaningful learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.

From enrolment through to student success, the discussion highlighted the importance of building a true five-star educational journey, one that supports, inspires, and empowers every student along the way.

The afternoon welcomed Gilbert Valverde to the stage, sharing the Elleebana story and exploring what the brand’s legacy of innovation means for today’s beauty professional. His presentation encouraged attendees to reflect on how education, adaptability, and embracing change can become powerful tools for business growth and long-term success.

The day concluded with interactive group exercises and an open industry panel discussion. Educators worked through real-world scenarios using The Elleebana Method, learning how to identify different learner profiles and tailor educational experiences for maximum engagement and results.

The panel discussion sparked conversations around emerging industry trends, evolving techniques, and the future of lash and brow education, offering valuable perspectives from some of the industry’s most experienced professionals.

Taking the Stage at The Course NYC

The education didn’t stop there.

Following the symposium, the team headed to one of New York’s most anticipated lash and brow events: The Course NYC.

Set inside a live music venue in Chelsea, the event carried an unmistakably New York energy. Industrial interiors, creative professionals, and an atmosphere buzzing with excitement created the perfect backdrop for a day of advanced education.

Otto took attendees through his highly anticipated Monofusion technique, alongside the fascinating Step 2 Synergy Experiment. Artists had the opportunity to explore how tint absorption can be influenced by different processing and removal methods, challenging conventional thinking and opening new possibilities for treatment outcomes.

Then came the live demonstration. Standing on stage before a room full of passionate beauty professionals, Otto and Paige showcased the Monofusion technique with the Korean lash lift method, on a model with what may have been some of the longest natural lashes we’ve ever seen!

The room watched as theory became practice, with every step providing valuable insights that attendees could immediately apply within their own businesses.

Why Events Like These Matter

As an Australian-founded brand, we’re no strangers to long-haul flights.

Being based on the opposite side of the world can sometimes make global connection challenging, but it’s also what makes moments like these so special.

Every event gives us the opportunity to connect face-to-face with our Elleecommunity, strengthen existing relationships, and create new ones. It allows us to hear directly from artists, understand their challenges, celebrate their successes, and continue developing education that truly serves the industry.

While online learning has transformed accessibility within education, there is something incredibly powerful about being in a room filled with passionate professionals who are learning, sharing, asking questions, and growing together.

The conversations. The demonstrations. The hands-on experiences. The relationships built between artists.

These are the moments that continue to drive our industry forward.

As we continue our journey throughout 2026, we’re excited to bring education, innovation, and inspiration to even more corners of the world.

To everyone who joined us in New York, thank you for being part of the experience.

And if you’re wondering where we’ll be next, make sure you’re following along on Instagram.

The journey is only just beginning.

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Trainer In the Spotlight: Alicia Vadnais

Trainer In the Spotlight: Alicia Vadnais

We are thrilled to spotlight one of our exceptional USA trainers, Alicia Vadnais. Alicia has been an incredibly talented Elleebana trainer for the past few years, and she recently opened her own salon, Fringe Parlor, in her hometown of Benson, Minnesota. We are extremely proud of Alicia and everything she has achieved. Recently, we asked Alicia to share her journey in the beauty industry, and here is what she had to say:

Alicia’s Journey in the Beauty Industry

My love for the beauty industry started when I was 4 years old, telling my mom I wanted to be a “beauty shopper”. I have always had a passion for all things skin, lashes, and makeup.   Growing up on a farm in Minnesota, I spent summers baling hay and lived there all through high school. After attending NDSU and obtaining a double major in Psychology and Sociology, I headed to the East Coast. In searching for an Esthetics school, I found Atelier Esthetique in NYC and was licensed in 2007. I couldn’t get enough of this industry—there is so much to learn and love. I continued my education and received my ITEC certification, allowing me to work in 38 countries in all things Esthetics.  

After returning to Minnesota, I fell in love with a local farmer and ended up settling in my hometown of 3,500 people. I adjusted my goals and found a balance between work and family life. I have two amazing children, and my family is everything. I started lashing to stay home with my babies, finding the perfect balance of home and work.  

In 2018, my state began regulating lashes, requiring me to rent a space in a salon to continue working. My supportive husband built me a salon in a camper, allowing me to license it and work anywhere in the state. His willingness to support my dreams never ceases to amaze me.

Being in a licensed salon allowed me to return to my skin roots and research lash lifting. I love the transformative experience of extensions and the joy they bring to my clients. However, not everyone is a candidate for extensions, nor do they fit everyone’s lifestyle.

This is where Elleebana entered my life. I read about the company’s values and structure, which aligned perfectly with my beliefs. I believe in helping each other rise in this industry, rather than gatekeeping information. Elleebana is a true family of some of the most talented individuals I have seen. The lifetime support that comes with the training is unmatched by any other beauty company. When I discovered that I could be trained by Master Trainer Kelly Rhode in my state, I immediately signed up.

I was offered a training position the next year. Initially, I hesitated, not because it didn’t sound like an amazing opportunity, but because I didn’t think instructing was for me. Kelly’s persistence paid off, and I’m so glad I listened. It has been a bright spot in my career ever since. I get to be a cheerleader for my students, and we all grow together. If I have to pick my favorite reason for staying with Elleebana, it is the amazing human connections it allows me to make in this industry. I will forever be grateful to be part of a company whose owners never settle for anything less than the best. Otto Mitter is always working to improve our tools for success, providing us with the latest information and technology.

In 2020, I opened Vi Beauty Lab with a partner in Wayzata, MN, commuting 2.5 hours to work there two days a week. It was an amazing experience, with some of the best clients and co-workers. After two years, I returned to my hometown and, once again, my husband helped me restore a 100-year-old building into a salon, and Fringe Parlor was born. I still travel to the cities to train my Elleebana students, but most of my time is now spent closer to home. I train with the One Shot Lash Lift system and Lash and Brow Lamination with the Profusion system. My courses are available both in person and online. I would love to see you in class. We have a lot of fun, and there is a lot to learn. My door is always open.

Fun Facts About Alicia
  • I love all things art and history.
  • I’m a medical knowledge junkie, always researching something.
  • I love to sing.
  • I am fascinated by electricity and insisted on rewiring my washing machine when it broke.
  • I love movies.
  • I hate cooking, but I obviously do it because I love to eat.
  • When I’m not working, I’m with my family, enjoying the short Minnesota summers with as many days at the lake as possible.
Connect with Alicia:

Join us in celebrating Alicia’s incredible journey and achievements. We are grateful to have such a passionate and talented individual as part of the Elleebana family!

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Elleevation Symposium

Elleevation Symposium

This month our very own Director and Master Trainer Otto together with our General Manager Zoe flew to the USA to conduct the very first International Elleevation Symposium. The Symposium was a roaring success and we received so much positive feedback. We are overwhelmed with the response and plan to implement this in other countries in the future.

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Lash Artists International

Lash Artists International

2016 has been a huge year for Belmacil and Elleebana and 2017 looks like it is going to be even bigger! Our Director Otto Mitter is a guest speaker and educator at Lash Artists International in Phoenix Arizona, USA in March. This event has some of the worlds best lash artists taking part and offers special workshops and education for the budding lash guru.

Thank you for having us along Jill Heijligers Peloquin! This will be a stella event!

You can purchase tickets to this event by going here

https://www.facebook.com/LashArtistsInternational/

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Elleebana Lash Lift – USA

Elleebana Lash Lift – USA

Otto Mitter travelled to Las Vegas this month to help launch our new team of trainers throughout the USA. The demand for the product has been growing and the call for trainers across the country was a must, so USA here we come! You can now train all across the country in various locations, please contact our head USA distributors for more information

www.myelleebana.com or www.skinlashstudio.com

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